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Induction of Parturition in Sows with a Prostaglandin 2-Analog

Institut für Tierzucht und Haustiergenetik der Universität Gottingen^,1, Gynädkologische und Ambulatorische Tierklinik der Universität München and Bayerische Landesanstalt für Tierzucht, Grub

Abstract

Four experiments were conducted to investigate the suitability of a prostaglandin F₂ -analog (Prostalene, Syntex) to induce parturition in sows.

In Experiment 1, five groups of four to five sows each were treated with 0, .55, 1.67, 5.0 and 15.0 mg of "Prostalene," respectively, on day 110 of pregnancy. Results indicated that the dose effective in inducing normal parturition within 24 ± 4 hr was 5 mg or less. Piglet mortality was slightly, but nonsignificantly, increased. Thus, treatment was on day 111 during subsequent experiments.

In Experiment 2, four groups of five sows each were treated with 2, 3, 4 or 5 mg Prostalene, respectively. At doses of 2 or 3 mg, time of onset of parturition was delayed and more variable than with 4 or 5 milligrams.

Experiment 3 was conducted under field conditions to compare effectiveness of 4 and 5 mg Prostalene inducing parturition in two groups of 20 sows each. Sows in each group responded essentially the same. No problems with parturition or increased piglet mortality were encountered.

Experiment 4 was designed to monitor hormone changes following treatment with 5 mg Prostalene. Blood samples were taken at 3-hr intervals and plasma concentrations of progesterone and total unconjugated estrogens were measured by radioimmunoassay. Progesterone decreased to minimum levels of 4 ng/ml within 12 hours. Estrogen concentrations, however remained essentially unchanged in both treatment and control groups.

¹ Albrecht-Thaer-Weg 1, D-3400 Göttingen, W. Germany.

² Present address: Institut für Tierzucht and Tierverhalten, FAL Mariensee.

³ The authors want to express their gratitude to F. Elsaesser for measuring progesterone, R. Stolla for his assistance with the estrogen determination and to J. Ebeling, I. Rippen, H. Hollwich and W. Zwicknagel for valuable technical assistance. W. Jöchle and the late D. R. Lamond were the initiators of this investigation. One of the authors, T. Diallo, held a Otto-Benecke-Fellowship. "Prostalene" was kindly supplied by Syntex Co., Palo Alto, CA.